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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

To feel a bit sad

16 replies

notnow2 · 30/12/2013 17:17

Dd is 2.2 and I took her and my 2 boys 6 and 4 to a soft play zone today. Dd was in the under 3 bit and the supervisor woman took 2 squashy shapes out of her hand and said "these are for the little ones". I was a bit and said well she is only little. She told me the area was for under 3s. I told her she is just 2 and the woman stared at her and said well she looks like an odd 2 year old and stalked off taking shapes with her
Dd is 92cm and on 91st centile but honestly this woman really upset me.

OP posts:

KickassCoalition · 30/12/2013 17:21

To be honest, I would have at least complained and probably gone nuclear, but I am one of those mums that MN doesn't like very much and may be guilty of going over the top. Just a little bit.

YANBU, I would be sad as well but would have countered that with a frothing complaint to the manager.

ashtrayheart · 30/12/2013 17:23

Does the soft play place have a Facebook page? I would complain publicly!

SofaKing · 30/12/2013 17:27

Mention it to management.

I had this with ds1, he was going into the small children's play area at soft play when he was nearly three, to play with his four year old friend and his 18 month old sister. An assistant stopped him, saying something about that area being for little ones. When I explained his age she apologised and let him in.
They changed their policy shortly after and only over fives were not permitted, and the assistants would find and speak to their parents rather than the child.

And well done for being so restrained, I would have chased her down and taken the shapes back, with a breezy 'You're over three, aren't you?' But I am a pita.

PacificDingbat · 30/12/2013 17:30

Well done for speaking up about it at the time.

But being 'upset' about it?
You have a tall, healthy child - be proud.

It is sometimes hard with children who look older than their years, because people expect more of them behaviour wise.
Don't let it get to you - chances are this won't be the last time.

ChristmasJumperWearer · 30/12/2013 17:31

My sympathies, my DC2 is a galumphing tall 2yo and goes rampaging around the under-3's area upending crawling babies left and right, and when I apologise and explain he's only 2yo other mums are gobsmacked.

Of course they're too young to understand how to use the bigger area, so we're stuck with the under-3's.

But then my DC1 was 25th centile so I understand both sides and how it can be.

TBH I think I'll be avoiding soft play until he's a bit older, which is a bit sad, I agree.

CombineBananaFister · 30/12/2013 17:32

You were very calm. she was a jobsworth and rude.
Whilst I am sure it's good the staff check that the play area ages are adhered to, to then basically accuse you of lying AND taking the toys was pretty shitty.
Not something to get over-riled about but I would mention it, her customer 'service' skills need improving.

GhoulWithADragonTattoo · 30/12/2013 17:33

I would have "She only turned 2 in October (or whatever), please can we have those back?".

LyingWitchInTheWardrobe2726 · 30/12/2013 17:35

She didn't mean 'odd' though, OP, did she? Could she have meant 'not what one would expect to see as a 2 year old'?

I can understand why you feel a bit sad but nothing this woman has said changes your daughter a whit.

Forewarned is forearmed though - you won't let this woman take things from your child again.

snowed · 30/12/2013 18:07

YANBU. Complain.

whatareyoueventalkingabout · 30/12/2013 18:36

what I said on your other thread. "How old are you? Well you look a lot older...."

whatareyoueventalkingabout · 30/12/2013 18:37

what I said on your other thread. "How old are you? Well you look a lot older...."

YouStayClassySanDiego · 30/12/2013 18:39

I would have seethed and complained.

She was incredibly rude.

YouStayClassySanDiego · 30/12/2013 18:41

Oh heck, you've got two threads on this.

Why?

KatnipEvergreen · 30/12/2013 18:43

I would have informed the woman of DD's age, waited until she put the shapes down then immediately have gone to get them back, then mentioned her attitude to the manager on the way out.

Original poster

notnow2 · 30/12/2013 18:45

It kept saying - mumsnet offline when I posted it first time so I copied the text and shut down the app. I then reopened the app and pasted the text and posted it a again Obviously I must have changed the title and the first attempt worked. Why?

OP posts:

KatnipEvergreen · 30/12/2013 18:47

Don't let it get to you - chances are this won't be the last time.

DD2 is very, very, tall for her age- like one of the taller children in Y2 and she has just started in reception. Though I think having curly cherub like hair which hasn't grown very fast helps, we've never had this attitude. I've always worried about that when somewhere is free for under fives etc, but people have always taken me at my word about her age.

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